Elias wrapped up the wound with some gauze before letting her go. Alice waited patiently and looked over the open clearing that held the fallen undead. The ogre now looked bloated and as the darkness left its lifeless body with nothing left to cling to started to dissipate. It continued to disintegrate slowly.
“Thank you,” said Alice once the wrappings covered her wrist.
Elias nodded. “It is my job to see that you are safe. I’m glad that you could finish off the ogre. You will need to take it easy over the next few days. Don’t pick up anything with that hand. Hopefully, we won’t run into any more trouble in the next few days. We are almost to our destination.”
Elias and Alice, their adrenaline still pumping from the intense battle with the ogre, made their way back to the quaint cottage they had used as a temporary base. The night had fallen, and the sky was illuminated by a shimmering blanket of stars. Exhausted but victorious, they stumbled inside, their footsteps echoing in the quiet room.
Alice gingerly settled herself on a wooden chair near the hearth, her injured wrist cradled gently in her lap. Elias, his armor, and clothing smeared with the remnants of their brutal encounter, carefully placed his sword against the wall. He started to gather a few things for the night. The cottage was a comforting sight, its rustic interior bathed in the soft glow of a few candlesticks.
"You did well out there, Alice. That ogre didn't stand a chance once you got hold of that torch."
Alice offered a faint smile, the pain in her wrist momentarily forgotten. "We make a good team, Elias. I couldn't have done it without your help."
“We do make a good team. There has been little time for me to show you sword techniques. I think we should stop in the next village. Let you rest somewhere proper, and I will show you my sword skills. You will have to watch for now but later you will practice them.”
“I would like that. We can stop for a day, but we should continue onward. I’m ready to return to the capital again. The people there are waiting for us.” She nodded in gratitude once more. "And thank you, Elias. I appreciate your care."
Elias smiled, his eyes reflecting the warmth of the fire. "I have to ensure your safety, Alice. Now, rest. We have a long journey ahead, and I want you to be at your best."
With that, they both settled into a comfortable silence, the cottage providing them with a temporary sanctuary from the dangers that lurked outside. In the morning they returned to their horses with their items packed up ready for the journey. The city square looked bleak in the morning light. Cracks had formed in the packed dirt. The Undead had mostly dissipated but some of the remains were still active. Black smoke rose off the bodies cleansing themselves of the darkness.
Riding out of the village they left quickly. The path they continued down was well trodden though so early on they saw no one on their path yet. As they traveled they passed an old signpost. The wood lodged in the ground was slanted slightly though the words written on it were still legible. Lower on the signpost were directions to the smaller villages in the area including the one they came from and where they were going. At the top were two larger posts. One was for Easthaven, the largest settlement in the area, and the capital ‘Elder’s Rock’, still days away from them.
They crossed over a river bringing water down from the snowy mountain tops. Animal tracks had crossed through in search of water, fish, or other animals. The weather was still chilly but less wet.
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In the afternoon, Alice and Elias finally arrived in the next village. It was a quaint little place, with cobblestone streets and colorful cottages. The villagers went about their daily routines, casting curious glances at the two travelers as they rode through.
Elias guided their horses towards a welcoming inn with a wooden sign that swung gently in the breeze, creaking like an old friend's greeting. They dismounted and tethered their horses to a nearby post, ensuring they were well cared for. As they entered the inn, a warm wave of aromas from freshly baked bread and hearty stews enveloped them.
Inside, they found a cozy corner with a wooden table and two chairs. Alice sighed in relief as she sank into the soft cushioned seat. Elias ordered a hot meal and a room for the night. After eating their late lunch, the pair walked out to the fields that surrounded the village. Miles of wheat, corn, and other vegetables filled the acres of land.
They found a more secluded spot in between the lines of planted corn. Alice took a few steps back as Elias drew his sword. In the distance, she could see the roofs of a few small houses but for now, her eyes were concentrated solely on her master’s sword.
“Today I will start going over my sword techniques with you. Due to your injury just watch what I do. It is important to be careful of foot placement, body angles, and wrist motion as each strike is completed. While the move can generally be performed if one of these is off its power will be diminished. To a wayward observer, the attack may look the same, but the sword attacks would feel completely different to an enemy. The better you can recreate these movements the better you can cut through armor, defend, and protect yourself. At the sword temple, there was a test they would perform to see if your strike was at the level of a beginner, apprentice, all the way through master and grandmaster. In my time in the temple, I got two sword strikes to the level of master. Though I can no longer confirm my strikes with the test I know that the rest of the strikes I have learned are now at the master level at least. With time and practice, I will bring you up to that level and teach you everything I know. It will be difficult, but you have already shown great talent with the sword so far. There will be many more enemies beyond the ogre, and I will make sure that you are ready for them.”
He slid his right foot forward and twisted his body into position. His hands were firmly on his sword at the ready. The air swept around his blade as he performed a downward slash.
“Heavenly Descent Slash. The first of the sword temple moves. In full effect, it can shatter another swordsman’s defending blade or force a shield bearer back. When in doubt bring your sword down on your enemies and watch them fall.”
He took a step back and returned to the same stance. He repeated the swing twice more. The first one was slow and the second was at regular speed.
“For this move, you will want to focus on your wrists and your grip. Without a strong grip, the sword will fly out of your hands. When your wrist isn’t set where it is supposed to then your blade will be deflected easily, and you will lose power in your strike. Your body should be level with your feet. This is not a reaching strike. This is an attack that when in range will force your enemies to dodge or take on. Swords in its way will be deflected or broken. If paired with the magic given by the witches we will meet then few creatures will be able to take the strike head-on.” He paused giving himself time to recenter himself. “I’ll go again. Watch each part as the strike flows from start to finish.”
He struck the air again and Alice watched. She kept her eyes focused on each part of his attack. Without her sword in hand, she shifted her feet into the starting position. Her hands followed holding an imaginary blade. Elias watched her form helping to correct and adjust it. He returned to his sword swinging and let her mimic the swing with an imaginary blade.
As the evening sun cast long shadows across the cornfield, Alice and Elias continued their practice. With each swing of Elias's sword, Alice's focus sharpened. She mirrored his movements as closely as possible, trying to engrain the techniques into her muscle memory. He provided pointers on her stance, reminding her of the importance of her grip and the subtle weight shifts that could make all the difference in the effectiveness of her strikes. He demonstrated the Heavenly Descent Slash several more times, each iteration smoother and more precise than the last.
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting an orange glow across the sky. The world around them gradually darkened, and the stars began to twinkle overhead. They finished up the practice ready to return in the morning when the sun was out again. The pair walked back through the fields toward the village for the night.